BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring G60 vs BMW 218d F22: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring hits 100 km/h in 3.90 s versus 8.35 s for the 218d. The instant torque of 795 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring leads by 4.46 s and sits roughly 25 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring is doing 150 km/h against 114 km/h for the 218d. The gap is 2.69 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring crosses the line in 12.16 s versus 16.17 s. The 4.01 s gap represents roughly 148 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 207 km/h versus 158 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the i5 M60 xDrive Touring finishes in 22.30 s versus 29.45 s, with a 7.15 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i5 M60 xDrive Touring is capped at 230 km/h, the 218d at 213 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.58 seconds. The 4.46 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.